APRIL 2011 || The Magazine of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia ON AIR A Local Focus || Dispute Resolution Initiative || Social Networking 101 We have lift off... 36 metro-wide CBX is the triennial magazine of the Community Broadcasting community radio Association of Australia. stations officially CBX is mailed to CBAA members launch their and stakeholders. Subscribe to CBX by emailing: digital services! [email protected] CBX is also available online at: www.cbaa.org.au/cbx By > Adrian Basso Follow us on Twitter: CBAA President @_CBX_ Like us on Facebook: CBX We have lift off! From April, across Australia, 36 metro-wide community EDITOR: radio stations will officially launch their digital services. Nell Greco Ph 02 9310 2999 This marks a new era for community radio and, just like the lunar landing, Email [email protected] it has not occurred by chance or overnight. It has involved many years of lobbying, planning, negotiations, wading through complex legislation and GRAPHIC DESIGN: contracts and considerable determination to ensure community broadcasters’ birdcreative Judith Martinez participation in the digital radio framework. & Kasia Froncek www.birdcreative.com.au The implementation of digital radio in the five mainland capital cities is the first stage of the digital radio roll out. The CBAA will continue to advocate SUBMISSIONS: and negotiate for the inclusion of all community broadcasters as digital radio Email articles and images develops. to [email protected] Minister Conroy’s article, on page nine, acknowledges both the Federal ADVERTISING: For all advertising enquiries Government’s recognition of our contribution to Australian cultural life and its please contact the Editor. commitment to including community broadcasters in the new digital era. This commitment has assisted with this initial step to digital for our metropolitan CBX content is CBAA broadcasters - it’s an important step to acknowledge and celebrate. copyrighted. All rights reserved. Articles may be used by CBAA This edition of CBX also draws attention to community broadcasters working members without permission, closely with the Local Government sector. Plus CBX notes the launch of a new provided credit is given. service for CBAA members: the Community Broadcasting Dispute Resolution CBX IS PRINTED ON: Initiative. It will provide assistance for stations with internal disputes via ecoStar access to pro bono mediation services. The Community Broadcasting Census also kicks off in May through the CBOnline Project. I encourage all stations to make sure they respond, so the sector has as much information as possible to ensure our lobbying reflects COVER ILLUSTRATION: activities and issues from right across our sector. Mike Lemanski The 2011 Community Broadcasting Station Census IN THE FIELD MAY 2011 For the first time conducted on behalf of the CBOnline Project for the community broadcasting sector by McNair Ingenuity Research. For more info contact [email protected] 2 The Triennial Magazine of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia • April 2011 ON AIR ON 17 page4 13 contents President’s Column ..................................................... ifc CBAA Update ................................................................ 2 On the Cover: COMMUNITY DIGITAL RADIO LAUNCHES ................ 4 Project News ................................................................. 6 Across the Sector .......................................................... 7 Getting the Message Across: Community Broadcasting Census ................................. 8 By Invitation: Minister Conroy ..................................... 9 On the Cover: A LOCAL FOCUS ........................................................ 12 On the Cover: 15 COMMUNITY BROADCASTING DISPUTE RESOLUTION INITIATIVE ........................ 15 On the Cover: RADIO DAYS: DOES SOCIAL NETWORKING ............16 Station 2 Station: 30CR (Colac, VIC) and 6RPH (Perth, WA) ....................17 Tech & Training: Online Broadcasting Platforms ...... 19 Out of the Box ............................................................. 20 At the CBAA ...............................................................ibc GUIDING Promote the principles of democracy, access and equity, especially for people PRINCIPLES and issues not adequately represented Community Broadcasting in other media. Codes of Practice (2008) By > Kath Letch funding, as did David Melzer both in his role as CBAA President and CBAA General Manager currently as Chair of the Digital Radio Consultative Committee. COMMUNITY I’ve had the pleasure of working DIGITAL RADIO with all of these people, and others I recall beginning to consider digital involved at various times, in the radio when I was CBAA President development of community digital in the mid 90’s. It’s been a long haul radio. It’s a satisfying moment to see to the start of community digital services launching. radio services. The Digital Radio Project operates There are a number of people who with the support of Federal Govern- ment funding and the Community have played major roles during that NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE CBAA Broadcasting Foundation (CBF). Under time who I would like to acknowledge. Federal Government policy the first CBAA Technical Consultant, David stage rollout is solely applicable to the Sice, has done a remarkable job of mainland capital cities and metro- working through the technical and wide community services. policy issues for the introduction of The CBAA has long been committed digital radio throughout that period. to the principle of access for He’s also responsible for the community broadcasters, both radio design and implementation of the and television, to all free-to-air community digital radio network broadcast platforms. for services being launched across Participation in the introduction April and May for metropolitan-wide of the digital broadcasting is critical community stations. to pursuing the longer term aim of Barry Melville, in both the roles of access to digital broadcasting for Policy Officer and General Manager all community broadcasting licensees of the CBAA, also contributed by the CBAA. It has been a central significantly to early planning and part of the organisation’s work over lobbying for digital radio access and the last 15 years. PHONEBOX FIELD REPORTER OB UNIT Broadcast from anywhere with the new Phonebox. Simply insert a sim card and dial into your studio using the 3G/GSM phone network. Low cost, easy to use and does not require expensive point to point equipment! Ideal for Outside Broadcasts, Sports Broadcasts, Live Interviews, ENG, News crosses and much more. For more information or to arrange a demo please contact Elan Audio. Elan Audio Equipment is Designed and Manufactured in Western Australia and designed to meet Professional Broadcast Standards Elan Audio, 2 Steel Court, South Guildford, Western Australia 6055 Phone 08 9277 3500 Fax 08 9478 2266 [email protected] www.elan.com.au 2 The Triennial Magazine of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia • April 2011 Community Digital Radio launches... SAVE THE DATE! CBAA CONFERENCE SURFERS PARADISE ILLUSTRATOR: ERIC LOBBECKE is an award-winning artist and illustrator 17-20 NOVEMBER 2011 based in Sydney who in 2010, was Awarded a Walkley Award for Best Artist. As well as contributing illustrations to National newspapers, Lobbecke creates images on request - online. Visit www.opinionsketch.wordpress.com or www.hirethehandthatdraws.wordpress.com and make your request for an illustration from Eric. You can also follow him on twitter: @hthtdraws It’s only a part of the CBAA’s work, However, there remains an important of course. We provide a range of distinction in maintaining access to other critical services to members; free-to-air broadcast platforms for representation and lobbying for the long term development and role sector development, funding and of community media. support to stations and information Alongside online platforms and social dissemination, to name just a few of media developments, the collective our priority areas. process involved in local community Access to digital broadcast platforms broadcasting plays a pivotal role in will remain a priority for the CBAA. many Australian communities. It is central to our role in representing The introduction of community digital licensees and ensuring a long term radio will undoubtedly make a strong position for community broadcasters contribution to the diversity and local in access to broadcast spectrum. content of digital radio services on Digital radio and television also sits offer. It is a critical step for the whole alongside other developments and community radio sector. delivery platforms in digital and social Keep up to date with other CBAA media. Community broadcasters are news at www.cbaa.org.au and the increasingly engaged across fortnightly CBAA Email Update all platforms. (register on the website). TRAINING BROADCASTERS? Update your resources. MAKING RADIO 3rd edition New chapters on digital radio and new technology, plus the latest on legal changes. Available online www.allenandunwin.com or ask for it at your local bookshop. www.cbaa.org.au/cbx 3 By > Alex White It represents a substantial infra- For the first time since the initial structure investment in Australian development of community radio Project Assistant Digital Radio Project community broadcasting. in Australia in the 1970’s, stations have the opportunity to explore CBAA President Adrian Basso says, programming ideas on a